Secrets of the Unknown #171

In "A Martian Walks Among Us!", a lone man confronts a mysterious figure he believes to be a Martian infiltrator, only to find the truth far more unexpected when the supposed spy reveals himself as a Venusian sent to safeguard Earth—though not before a deadly confrontation unfolds. The story unfolds with quiet dread and a twist that redefines what it means to be an alien among us.

In "The Gargoyle!", a man shunned for his unattractive appearance seeks work at a circus, only to find himself drawn into a bizarre and otherworldly scheme—where beauty is a currency, and his very ugliness makes him the most desirable candidate for a royal union. The story unfolds with quiet unease, blending sci-fi intrigue with a touch of melancholy, as Jo, a man long rejected by society, becomes the unlikely centerpiece of an alien court's fascination.

In "The Forbidden World!" from *Secrets of the Unknown* #171 (1977), a space patrol stumbles upon an alien world veiled in a mysterious mist. When the planet’s inhabitants fire on their ship, the crew prepares to strike back—only to discover too late that the warning shots were meant to protect them from the deadly fog itself.

In "The Mystery of the Purple Planet!" from *Secrets of the Unknown* #171 (1977), a space expedition investigates a distant world veiled in an unnatural mist, drawn by the discovery of strange golden deposits. As they collect the treasure, the crew begins to change—transformed into beings eerily like the planet’s hidden inhabitants.

In "The Magic of Mordoo," a man’s longing for a younger wife leads him down a dangerous path when he lets a gypsy magician transform his middle-aged lover into a stunningly youthful beauty—only to find her gone, drawn to the very enchantment that changed her. Written by an unknown hand and illustrated by an unknown artist, this eerie five-page tale from *Secrets of the Unknown* #171 (1977) spins a haunting story of desire, illusion, and the price of beauty.

In "The Little People!" from Secrets of the Unknown #171 (1977), an American expatriate wandering through Europe encounters a hidden community of tiny people who seem to know him—though he’s never seen them before. After being captured and narrowly escaping, he dismisses the experience as a dream, yet can’t shake the lingering question: could he have lived another life among them?

In "Man Alone!", a man haunted by dreams of solitary confinement flees to the sea, only to be shipwrecked on a deserted island—unaware that this isolation might be the fate he was always meant to face. Written by an unknown hand and illustrated by an unknown artist, the story unfolds with quiet dread, where every wave and shadow feels like a memory returning.